Irvine honors its hometown Olympic winners

Jason Lezak, shown in a photo in June at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine, was honored Tuesday night by the city of Irvine for his Olympics accomplishments. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Dan Klatt, assistant coach for the 2012 gold-winning U.S. Women's Water Polo Team, was honored Tuesday night by the city of Irvine. PHOTOGRAPHER: MICHAEL LARSEN+SEP+MICHAEL LARSEN, LARSEN&TALBERT

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(L-R) Lauren Tamayo, Dotsie Bausch, Jennie Reed and Sarah Hammer of the United States receive their Silver medal during the medal ceremony for the Women's Team Pursuit Track Cycling on Day 8 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Velodrome on Aug. 4. Bausch was unable to attend the Tuesday night City Council meeting but was issued a commendation for her 2012 Olympic Silver medal. BRYN LENNON, GETTY IMAGES

Dan Klatt, right, is given a plaque to honor his role as assistant coach of the gold medal-winning USA women's water polo team from Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang Tuesday. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Jason Lezak, a four-time Olympic medalist, speaks to the audience at the Irvine city council meeting Tuesday. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Dan Klatt, an assistant coach with the 2012 USA Olympic women's water polo team, is all smiles after he is honored by the city during the city council meeting Tuesday. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Jason Lezak and Dan Klatt listen to words of praise after being given plaques by the city during the council meeting Tuesday. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Olympic assistant coach Dan Klatt, left, and swimmer Jason Lezak shake hands with Irvine city council members after being honored Tuesday with plaques commemorating their Olympic accomplishments. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

IRVINE – London 2012 Olympic swimming silver-medalist Jason Lezak and Dan Klatt, assistant coach for the 2012 gold-winning U.S. women's water polo team, were honored Tuesday by the City Council.

Lezak won a 2012 silver medal in the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay. He also won medals at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics. He competed in swimming for Irvine High School and after college returned to live in Irvine, where he still trains at Woollett Aquatics Center.

"It's a great honor to represent the city of Irvine," Lezak said.

Klatt, who calls himself an "adopted son of Irvine," played water polo at UC Irvine and competed as an athlete in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He is now head coach for UC Irvine's women's water polo team and assistant coach for its men's team.

He plans to stay in Irvine for many years. "I hope to raise my children here and grow old here," Klatt said.

Lezak and Klatt said the Irvine community, which has produced more than 30 Olympians, fosters athletic excellence in several ways.

Many parents in the city support and encourage their children to play and excel in various sports, which increases the level of competition overall, they said.

"When competition is high, you are always pushing yourself to be better than the other kids," Lezak said.

Sports fields, pools, parks and other facilities in Irvine are numerous, spacious and well-built, they said.

"Kids don't have to swim at 8 or 9 at night, like I have seen in other cities," Lezak said.

Klatt added that much of that is a product of the city's design and vision.

"Irvine has a plan for everything – including athletics," he said. One example of that was incorporating UC Irvine in the vision for the city from the start. UCI attracts high-level student-athletes, Klatt said.

Though they were unable to attend the ceremony, the city also issued commendations to 2012 Olympic women's team cycling silver-medalist Dotsie Bausch and to Paula Weishoff, assistant coach for the 2012 silver-winning U.S. women's volleyball team.

Bausch and Weishoff also live in Irvine, according to the city.

Bausch is a previous world-record holder and seven-time USA Cycling National Champion. She is also a passionate volunteer at Irvine Animal Care Center, according to the city.

Weishoff is head coach for women's volleyball at UC Irvine. She won Olympic volleyball medals as an athlete in 1984 and 1992 and is listed in the Volleyball Hall of Fame.

All four of the honorees are examples of "what can be accomplished through dedication, hard work, and a will to succeed," stated the commendation certificates from Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang.

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